Student Spotlight – Allyssa Dobkins

At the end of her freshman year, Coral Gables High senior Allyssa Dobkins became class president and kept that position through her senior year.

All the planning and executing special events for the Class of ’15 helped her earn more than 1,500 community service hours. Dobkins put a big focus on improving school spirit at Gables.

“I really wanted the school to get excited about going to school,” she said. “I wanted to make things more appealing. Now they have Support Our Sports. We work hand-in-hand getting people who aren’t in student activities involved in things.”

She set an example by going to as many sporting events as possible.

Dobkins was innovative in her attempt to bolster school spirit, putting together events that were new to the school or improving others. She worked on events such a nighttime pep rallies for important sports events that involved every club at the school and a costume contest.

Dobkins said she has made sure events are pushed on social media, from Instagram to Facebook.

“People share it,” she said. “There’s word of mouth.”

Dobkins also is a member of Gablettes and Company.

“I would go to many dance camps and practice with them every week,” she said.

Her commitment to dance helped her win the Silver Knight nomination for Gables in the area of dance. She also is on the senior executive board for Interact, a service club sponsored by Rotary. In college, she wants to go into a humanities program.

She is interested in politics, international relations and government. Languages also appeal to her.

“I want to do something where I’m dealing with people,” she said.

Even before high school, Dobkins was committed to volunteering. She spent summers working at the Key Biscayne Aquatic Camp.

This year, Dobkins has won several awards, including being named a Senior of Distinction and an award from the Junior League of Miami.